Royal Air Force

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)
"RAF" redirects here. For other uses, see RAF (disambiguation) and Royal Air Force (disambiguation).

Royal Air Force
ColoursRed, white, blue
     
MarchQuick: "Royal Air Force March Past"
Slow: "Saeculum"[3]
Anniversaries1 April
Engagements
See list
Websitewww.raf.mod.uk
C-17 Globemaster
Envoy IV CC1
TankerVoyager KC2/3
United Kingdom
Royal Air Force
of the British Armed Forces
Components
  • Special Forces
History and future
Aircraft
Personnel
Auxiliary services

The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the

Second World War, the RAF established air superiority over Hermann Göring's Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain, and led the Allied strategic bombing effort.[8][9]

The RAF's mission is to support the objectives of the British

air power, which guides its strategy. Air power is defined as "the ability to project power from the air and space to influence the behaviour of people or the course of events".[12]

Today, the Royal Air Force maintains an

tactical transport. The majority of the RAF's rotary-wing aircraft form part of the tri-service Joint Helicopter Command in support of ground forces. Most of the RAF's aircraft and personnel are based in the UK, with many others serving on global operations (principally over Iraq and Syria) or at long-established overseas bases (Ascension Island, Cyprus, Gibraltar, and the Falkland Islands). Although the RAF is the principal British air power arm, the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm and the British Army's Army Air Corps
also operate armed aircraft.

History

Further information: List of Royal Air Force operations
Main article: History of the Royal Air Force

Air Force (Constitution) Act 1917
Act of Parliament
7 & 8 Geo. 5. c. 51
Dates
Royal assent29 November 1917
Other legislation
Amended by
Status: Current legislation
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Air Force (Constitution) Act 1917 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

Origins

While the British were not the first to make use of heavier-than-air military aircraft, the RAF is the world's oldest independent air force; first air force to become independent of army or naval control.

Hotel Cecil.[17]

After the war, the RAF was drastically cut and its inter-war years were relatively quiet. The RAF was put in charge of

Admiralty control on 24 May 1939.[19]

The RAF adopted the doctrine of strategic bombing, which led to the construction of long-range bombers and became its main bombing strategy in the Second World War.[20]

Second World War

Further information: Air warfare of World War II
A Spitfire and Hurricane, which both played major roles in the Battle of Britain.

The Royal Air Force underwent rapid expansion prior to and during the Second World War. Under the

occupied Europe, also served with RAF squadrons. By the end of the war the Royal Canadian Air Force had contributed more than 30 squadrons to serve in RAF formations, similarly, approximately a quarter of Bomber Command's personnel were Canadian.[21] Additionally, the Royal Australian Air Force represented around nine per cent of all RAF personnel who served in the European and Mediterranean theatres.[22]
During the
Hitler's plans for an invasion of the UK. In the House of Commons on 20 August, prompted by the ongoing efforts of the RAF, Prime Minister Winston Churchill made a speech to the nation, where he said "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few".[23]

The Avro Lancaster heavy bomber was extensively used during the strategic bombing of Germany.

The largest RAF effort during the war was the

area bombing on German cities such as Hamburg and Dresden. Night time area bombing constituted the great bulk of the RAF's bombing campaign, mainly due to Harris, but it also developed precision bombing techniques for specific operations, such as the "Dambusters" raid by No. 617 Squadron,[25] or the Amiens prison raid known as Operation Jericho.[26]

Cold War era

Further information:
Structure of the Royal Air Force in 1989

Following victory in the Second World War, the RAF underwent significant re-organisation, as technological advances in air warfare saw the arrival of jet fighters and bombers. During the early stages of the Cold War, one of the first major operations undertaken by the RAF was the

Gatow Airport and Short Sunderlands flying to Lake Havel.[27] The RAF saw its first post-war engagements in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War: during the withdrawal of the former Mandatory Palestine in May 1948 where British Supermarine Spitfire FR.18s shot down four Royal Egyptian Air Force Spitfire LF.9s after the REAF mistakenly attacked RAF Ramat David;[28] and during encounters with the Israeli Air Force which saw the loss of a single de Havilland Mosquito PR.34 in November 1948 and four Spitfire FR.18s and a single Hawker Tempest F.6 in January 1949.[29][30]

Before Britain developed its own

Panavia Tornado GR1.[32][33]

nuclear bombs
.

For much of the Cold War the primary role of the RAF was the defence of

RAF Eastleigh.[37] The Suez Crisis in 1956 saw a large RAF role, with aircraft operating from RAF Akrotiri and RAF Nicosia on Cyprus and RAF Luqa and RAF Hal Far on Malta as part of Operation Musketeer.[38] The RAF suffered its most recent loss to an enemy aircraft during the Suez Crisis, when an English Electric Canberra PR7 was shot down over Syria.[39]

In 1957, the RAF participated heavily during the

Konfrontasi against Indonesia in the early 1960s did see use of RAF aircraft, but due to a combination of deft diplomacy and selective ignoring of certain events by both sides, it never developed into a full-scale war.[42] The RAF played a large role in the Aden Emergency between 1963 and 1967. Hawker Hunter FGA.9s based at RAF Khormaksar, Aden, were regularly called in by the British Army as close air support to carry out strikes on rebel positions.[43] The Radfan Campaign (Operation Nutcracker) in early 1964 was successful in suppressing the revolt in Radfa, however it did nothing to end the insurgency with the British withdrawing from Aden in November 1967.[44]

One of the largest actions undertaken by the RAF during the Cold War was the air campaign during the 1982

South Atlantic to provide air defence to the Falkland Islands, with the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2 based at RAF Mount Pleasant which was built in 1984.[48]

Post-Cold War

The Tornado played an integral part in RAF operations from 1991 until its retirement in 2019

With the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the RAF's focus returned to

War in Afghanistan,[52] the 2003 invasion and war in Iraq,[53] the 2011 intervention in Libya[54] and from 2014 onwards has been involved in the war against the Islamic State.[55]

The RAF began conducting Remotely-piloted Air System (RPAS) operations in 2004, with No. 1115 Flight carrying out missions in Afghanistan and Iraq with the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator.[56] Initially embedded with the United States Air Force, the RAF formed its own RPAS squadron in 2007 when No. 39 Squadron was stood up as a General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper unit at Creech AFB, Nevada.[57]

The RAF's 90th anniversary was commemorated on 1 April 2008 by a flypast of the RAF's Aerobatic Display Team the

RAF Memorial and (at 13.00) the Ministry of Defence building.[58][59][60]

Four major defence reviews have been conducted since the end of the Cold War: the 1990

BAE Harrier GR7/GR9.[62]

RAF Search and Rescue
was disbanded.

In recent years, fighter aircraft on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) have been increasingly required to scramble in response to Russian Air Force aircraft approaching British airspace.[63] On 24 January 2014, in the Houses of Parliament, Conservative MP and Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Andrew Robathan, announced that the RAF's QRA force had been scrambled almost thirty times in the last three years: eleven times during 2010, ten times during 2011 and eight times during 2012.[64] RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and RAF Lossiemouth in Moray both provide QRA aircraft, and scramble their Typhoons within minutes to meet or intercept aircraft which give cause for concern. Lossiemouth generally covers the northern sector of UK airspace, while Coningsby covers the southern sector. Typhoon pilot Flight Lieutenant Noel Rees describes how QRA duty works. "At the start of the scaled QRA response, civilian air traffic controllers might see on their screens an aircraft behaving erratically, not responding to their radio calls, or note that it's transmitting a distress signal through its transponder. Rather than scramble Typhoons at the first hint of something abnormal, a controller has the option to put them on a higher level of alert, 'a call to cockpit'. In this scenario the pilot races to the hardened aircraft shelter and does everything short of starting his engines".[65]

The RAF operated the Hercules since 1967. The C-130J model was in service between 1998 and 2023

On 4 October 2015, a final stand-down saw the end of more than 70 years of

Private Finance Initiative with newly purchased Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW189 aircraft. The new contract means that all UK SAR coverage is now provided by Bristow aircraft.[66]

In 2018, the RAF's vision of a future constellation of imagery satellites was initiated through the launch of the

Carbonite-2 technology demonstrator. The 100 kg Carbonite-2 uses commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components to deliver high-quality imagery and 3D video footage from space.[67][68] The Royal Air Force celebrated its 100th anniversary on 1 April 2018.[69] It marked the occasion on 10 July 2018 with a flypast over London consisting of 103 aircraft.[70][71]

Between March 2020 and 2022, the RAF assisted with the response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom as part of Operation Rescript. This saw the service provide repatriation flights and aeromedical evacuations of COVID-19 patients, drivers and call-handlers to support ambulance services and medics to assist with the staffing of hospitals, testing units and vaccination centres.[72][73] Under Operation Broadshare, the RAF has also been involved with COVID-19 relief operations overseas, repatriating stranded nationals and delivering medical supplies and vaccines to British Overseas Territories and military installations.[74]

The UK's 20-year long operations in Afghanistan came to an end in August 2021, seeing the largest airlift since the Berlin Blockade take place. As part of

Operation Polarbear.[77][78]

Structure

Main article: Structure of the Royal Air Force

Senior leadership

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton

The professional head and highest-ranking officer of the Royal Air Force is the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS). He reports to the Chief of the Defence Staff, who is the professional head of the British Armed Forces.[79] The incumbent Chief of the Air Staff is Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton who was appointed in 2023.[80]

The management of the RAF is the responsibility of the

overseas territories. The Chief of the Air Staff chairs the Air Force Board Standing Committee (AFBSC) which decides on the policy and actions required for the RAF to meet the requirements of the Defence Council and His Majesty's Government.[81]

The Chief of the Air Staff is supported by several other senior commanders:

Royal Air Force senior management positions[82]
Title Rank NATO rank scale
Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal OF-9
Deputy Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal OF-8
Air and Space Commander Air Marshal OF-8
Air Officer Northern Ireland Air Marshal OF-8
Assistant Chief of the Air Staff Air Vice-Marshal OF-7
Air Officer Scotland Air Vice-Marshal OF-7
Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Plans) Air Vice-Marshal OF-7
Chief of Staff Personnel and Air Secretary Air Vice-Marshal OF-7
Commandant General Royal Auxiliary Air Force Air Vice-Marshal OF-7
Director of Legal Services Air Vice-Marshal OF-7
Air Member for Materiel and Chief of Materiel
Vice Admiral
 OF-8[83]
Chaplain-in-Chief
 Air Vice-Marshal OF-7
Air Officer Wales Air Commodore OF-6
Director of Resources Civilian
Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force Warrant Officer OR-9

Air Command

Administrative and operational command of the RAF is delegated by the Air Force Board to Headquarters Air Command, based at RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. Air Command was formed on 1 April 2007 by combining RAF Strike Command and RAF Personnel and Training Command, resulting in a single command covering the whole RAF, led by the Chief of the Air Staff.[84] Through its subordinate groups, Air Command oversees the whole spectrum of RAF aircraft and operations.[85]

United Kingdom Space Command (UKSC), established 1 April 2021 under the command of Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey is a joint command, but sits "under the Royal Air Force."[86] Godfrey is of equal rank to the commanders of 1, 2, 11, and 22 Groups. The new command has "responsibility for not just operations, but also generating, training and growing the force, and also owning the money and putting all the programmatic rigour into delivering new ..capabilities."[86] UKSC headquarters is at RAF High Wycombe co-located with Air Command.[87]

Groups

Main article:
Groups
are the subdivisions of operational commands and are responsible for certain types of capabilities or for operations in limited geographical areas. There are five groups subordinate to Air Command, of which four are functional and one is geographically focused:

No. 1 Group (Air Combat)

No. 1 Group is responsible for combat aircraft (comprising the Lightning Force and Typhoon Force) and the RAF's intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities. It oversees stations at RAF Coningsby and RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, RAF Lossiemouth in Moray and RAF Marham in Norfolk. The group's Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 aircraft protect UK and NATO airspace by providing a continuous Quick Reaction Alert capability.[88]

No. 2 Group (Air Combat Support)

No. 2 Group controls the Air Mobility Force which provides strategic and tactical airlift, air-to-air refuelling and Command Support Air Transport. The group is also responsible for the RAF's Force Protection assets comprising the RAF Regiment and RAF Police. It oversees stations at RAF Benson and RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire, RAF Honington in Suffolk, RAF Odiham in Hampshire and RAF Northolt in West London.[89]

No. 11 Group (Multi-domain operations)

No. 11 Group is responsible for integrating operations across the air, cyber and space domains whilst responding to new and evolving threats. It includes the RAF's Battlespace Management Force which controls the UK Air Surveillance and Control System (ASACS). The group oversees stations at RAF Boulmer in Northumberland, RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire and RAF Spadeadam in Cumbria.[90]

No. 22 Group (Training)

No. 22 Group is responsible for the supply of qualified and skilled personnel to the RAF and provides flying and non-flying training to all three British armed services. It is the end-user of the UK Military Flying Training System which is provided by civilian contractor Ascent Flight Training. The group oversees stations at RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire, RAF Cosford and RAF Shawbury in Shropshire, RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire, MOD St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan, RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall and RAF Valley on Angelsey.[91] The No. 22 Group also manages the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.[92]

No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group

military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Operation Shader) and wider UK defence objectives in the Middle East. Operations are delivered through four Expeditionary Air Wings (No. 901 EAW, No. 902 EAW, No. 903 EAW and No. 904 EAW).[93]

Stations

See also: List of Royal Air Force stations and List of former Royal Air Force stations
Royal Air Force is located in the United Kingdom
Cranwell & Barkston Heath
Cranwell & Barkston Heath
Benson
Benson
Boulmer
Boulmer
Brize Norton
Brize Norton
Coningsby
Coningsby
Cosford
Cosford
Royal Air Force
Fylingdales
Fylingdales
Halton
Halton
Henlow
Henlow
Honington
Honington
Leeming
Leeming
Lossiemouth
Lossiemouth
Marham
Marham
Northolt
Northolt
Odiham
Odiham
Shawbury
Shawbury
St. Mawgan
St. Mawgan
Valley
Valley
Waddington
Waddington
Wittering
Wittering
Woodvale
Woodvale
Wyton
Wyton
class=notpageimage|
Map of the Royal Air Force's main stations.
 Front-line flying station
 Training station
 Battlespace management
 Support station

An RAF station is ordinarily subordinate to a group and is commanded by a group captain. Each station typically hosts several flying and non-flying squadrons or units which are supported by administrative and support wings.[94]

United Kingdom

Front-line flying operations are focussed at eight stations:[95]

Flying training takes places at

RAF College Cranwell, RAF Shawbury and RAF Valley, each forming part of the UK Military Flying Training System which is dedicated to training aircrew for all three UK armed services. Specialist ground crew training is focused at RAF Cosford, RAF St Mawgan and MOD St. Athan
.

Operations are supported by numerous other flying and non-flying stations, with activity focussed at RAF Honington which coordinates Force Protection and RAF Leeming & RAF Wittering which have a support enabler role.

A

Recognised Air Picture of UK air space and providing tactical control of the Quick Reaction Alert Force. In order to achieve this Boulmer is supported by a network of eight Remote Radar Heads (RRHs) spread the length of the UK.[96]

Overseas

The UK operates permanent military airfields (known as Permanent Joint Operating Bases) in four British Overseas Territories. These bases contribute to the physical defence and maintenance of sovereignty of the British Overseas Territories and enable the UK to conduct expeditionary military operations.[97] Although command and oversight of the bases is provided by Strategic Command, the airfield elements are known as RAF stations.[98]

Three RAF squadrons are based overseas. No. 17 Test and Evaluation Squadron is based at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in the United States and works in close cooperation with the U.S. Air Force in the development of the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning.[99] No. 84 Squadron is located at RAF Akrotiri, operating the Westland Puma HC2 for search and rescue.[100] No. 230 Squadron, based at Medicina Lines, Brunei, also operate the Puma HC2.[101]

Squadrons

Main article: List of Royal Air Force aircraft squadrons

A flying squadron is an aircraft unit which carries out the primary tasks of the RAF. RAF squadrons are somewhat analogous to the regiments of the British Army in that they have histories and traditions going back to their formation, regardless of where they are based or which aircraft they are operating. They can be awarded standards and battle honours for meritorious service. Most flying squadrons are commanded by a wing commander and, for a fast-jet squadron, have an establishment of around twelve aircraft.[102]

Flights

See also: List of Royal Air Force aircraft independent flights
RAF Mount Pleasant, home to No. 1435 Flight providing air defence for the Falkland Islands.

Independent flights are so designated because they are explicitly smaller in size than a squadron. Many independent flights are, or have been, front-line flying units. For example, No. 1435 Flight carries out air defence duties for the Falkland Islands, with four Eurofighter Typhoon fighters based at RAF Mount Pleasant.[103]

Support wings and units

See also: List of wings of the Royal Air Force and List of Royal Air Force units & establishments

Support capabilities are provided by several specialist wings and other units.

Expeditionary Air Wings

Main article: Expeditionary Air Wing

Command, control, and support for overseas operations is typically provided through Expeditionary Air Wings (EAWs). Each wing is brought together as and when required and comprises the deployable elements of its home station as well as other support elements from throughout the RAF.[104]

Several Expeditionary Air Wings are based overseas:[93]

Training schools

Main article: List of Royal Air Force schools

Flying training

The RAF Schools consist of the squadrons and support apparatus that train new aircrew to join front-line squadrons. The schools separate individual streams, but group together units with similar responsibility or that operate the same aircraft type. Some schools operate with only one squadron, and have an overall training throughput which is relatively small; some, like No. 3 Flying Training School, have responsibility for all Elementary Flying Training (EFT) in the RAF, and all RAF aircrew will pass through its squadrons when they start their flying careers. No. 2 Flying Training School and No. 6 Flying Training School do not have a front-line training responsibility – their job is to group the University Air Squadrons and the Volunteer Gliding Squadrons together. The commanding officer of No. 2 FTS holds the only full-time flying appointment for a Group Captain in the RAF, and is a reservist.

Non-flying training

Jaguar aircraft used for training by No.1 School of Technical Training at RAF Cosford

The British military operate a number of joint training organisations, with Air Command leading the provision of technical training through the Defence College of Technical Training (DCTT).[116] It provides training in aeronautical engineering, electro and mechanical engineering, and communication and information systems.[117]

  • No. 1 School of Technical Training is based at RAF Cosford and provides RAF personnel with mechanical, avionics, weapons and survival equipment training. Also based at Cosford is the Aerosystems Engineer and Management Training School. Both are part of the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering.[118]
  • No. 4 School of Technical Training is part of the Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering (DSEME) and is based at MOD St Athan. It provides training to non-aircraft ground engineering technicians.[119]
  • No. 1 Radio School and the Aerial Erectors School are based at Cosford and RAF Digby respectively and are part of the
    Defence School of Communications and Information Systems.[120]

Specialist training and education

The Royal Air Force operates several units and centres for the provision of non-generic training and education. These include the Royal Air Force Leadership Centre and the

Air Warfare Centre, based at RAF Waddington and RAF Cranwell.[122] Non-commissioned officer training and developmental courses occur at RAF Halton and officer courses occur at the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Shrivenham.[123]

Personnel

See also: List of Royal Air Force personnel and List of comparative military ranks
Members of the RAF Regiment on parade, 2013

At its height in 1944 during the Second World War, more than 1,100,000 personnel were serving in the RAF. The longest-lived founding member of the RAF was Henry Allingham, who died on 18 July 2009 aged 113.[124]

As of 1 January 2015, the RAF numbered some 34,200 Regular[125] and 1,940 Royal Auxiliary Air Force[126] personnel, giving a combined component strength of 36,140 personnel. In addition to the active elements of the RAF, (Regular and Royal Auxiliary Air Force), all ex-Regular personnel remain liable to be recalled for duty in a time of need, this is known as the Regular Reserve. In 2007, there were 33,980 RAF Regular Reserves, of which 7,950 served under a fixed-term reserve contract.[127] Publications since April 2013 no-longer report the entire strength of the Regular Reserve, instead they only give a figure for Regular Reserves who serve under a fixed-term reserve contract.[128] They had a strength of 7,120 personnel in 2014.[129]

Figures provided by the International Institute for Strategic Studies from 2012 showed that RAF pilots achieve a relatively high number of flying hours per year when compared with other major NATO allies such as France and Germany. RAF pilots achieve 210 to 290 flying hours per year.[130] French and German Air Force pilots achieved 180 and 150 flying hours across their fleets respectively.[131]

Officers

King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Princess Elizabeth with RAF personnel during World War II

Officers hold a

RAF College, Cranwell, Lincolnshire.[132]

To emphasise the merger of both military and naval aviation when the RAF was formed, many of the titles of officers were deliberately chosen to be of a naval character, such as

wing commander, group captain, and air commodore.[133]

Other ranks

Other ranks attend the Recruit Training Squadron at RAF Halton for basic training.[134] The titles and insignia of other ranks in the RAF were based on that of the Army, with some alterations in terminology. Over the years, this structure has seen significant changes: for example, there was once a separate system for those in technical trades, and the ranks of chief technician and junior technician continue to be held only by personnel in technical trades. RAF other ranks fall into four categories: Warrant Officers, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers and Airmen. All Warrant Officers in the RAF are equal in terms of rank, but the most senior Non-Commissioned appointment is known as the Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force.[135]

Ranks

Main articles: RAF officer ranks and RAF other ranks
Royal Air Force officer rank insignia
NATO code
OF-10
OF-9
OF-8
OF-7
OF-6
OF-5
OF-4
OF-3
OF-2
OF-1
 OF(D)
Royal Air Force
epaulette rank insignia
rank title[136] Marshal of the Royal Air Force Air Chief Marshal Air Marshal Air Vice-Marshal Air Commodore Group Captain Wing Commander Squadron Leader Flight Lieutenant Flying Officer Pilot Officer
Officer cadet
abbreviation MRAF[note 1] Air Chf Mshl Air Mshl AVM Air Cdre Gp Capt Wg Cdr Sqn Ldr Flt Lt Fg Off Plt Off Off Cdt
Royal Air Force other rank insignia
NATO rank code OR-9 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Royal Air Force
rank insignia
(view) 		no insignia
rank title[137] Warrant Officer of the Royal Air Force Warrant Officer Flight Sergeant Chief Technician Sergeant Corporal Lance Corporal
(RAF Regiment) 		Air Specialist (Class 1) Technician Air Specialist (Class 1) Air Specialist (Class 2) Air Recruit
abbreviation WORAF WO FS Chf Tech Sgt Cpl LCpl AS1(T) AS1 AS2 AR
Aircrew
rank insignia 		no equivalent
rank title RAF Master Aircrew RAF Flight Sergeant Aircrew RAF Sergeant Aircrew
abbreviation MAcr FSAcr SAcr

Aircraft

Further information:
List of aircraft of the RAF and List of active United Kingdom military aircraft

Current Inventory

Type Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total Notes
Combat Aircraft
Eurofighter Typhoon United Kingdom Jet Multi-role 2007 137[138] 137[b][138] [139] 16 Tranche 1s have been progressively withdrawn and scrapped under the RTP requirement[140] which started in late 2016[141][142]
All Tranche 1s to be retired by 2025.[143]
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning United States [144] Jet Stealth Multi-role 2013 34[c] 35[d] [145][146][147][148] Jointly operated with Fleet Air Arm. Maximum of 138 aircraft to be
procured[149][150][151][152]
AEW&C
Boeing E-7 Wedgetail AEW.1
 United States Jet AW&C 2022 0 3 Originally five on order, now reduced to three, to begin operating in 2024.[153][139]
Reconnaissance
Beechcraft Shadow R.1 United States Propeller ISTAR 2009 6 6 [139] Expected OSD 2030.[154] A further two aircraft are to be added in 2023 along
with an upgrade to the current aircraft[155]
Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint United States Jet SIGINT 2013 3 3 [139] Formally known as Airseeker[156]
Boeing P-8 Poseidon MRA.1 United States Jet
Anti-ship[157]
 2019 9 9
Tanker / Transport
Airbus Voyager Spain Jet Tanker / Transport 2011 14 14 [139] Two additional aircraft available upon request from AirTanker Services
Transport
Boeing C-17A Globemaster III United States Jet Transport 2001 8 8 [139]
Airbus A400M Atlas C.1 Spain Propeller Transport 2014 22 28[e][158][138] [139] Up to six additional aircraft to be procured by 2030[138][159][160]
Dassault Envoy IV CC.1 France Jet Transport 2022 2[161] 2 Two aircraft to be introduced from March 2022. To be initially operated under civil contract until 2026[162]
Helicopter
Leonardo AW109SP United Kingdom / Italy Rotorcraft Transport 2016 1 1 [139] Used for transportation of senior military commanders or government ministers. [163]
Boeing Chinook United States Rotorcraft
Transport
 1980 57 75
Westland/Airbus Helicopters Puma HC.2 United Kingdom Rotorcraft Transport 1971
2013		 14 41 Deployed in Cyprus and Brunei as of 2023[164][139][165]
Airbus H145 Jupiter HC.2
 Germany Rotorcraft Transport 2024 6 6 Six aircraft ordered; to replace Puma HC2 in Cyprus and Brunei from 2024.[166][167]
Trainer Aircraft
Airbus H135 Juno HT.1 Germany Rotorcraft Trainer 2018 29 29 [139]
Airbus H145 Jupiter HT.1
 Germany Rotorcraft Trainer 2018 7 7 [139]
BAE Systems Hawk T.2 United Kingdom Jet Jet trainer 2009 28 28
No. IV (R) Squadron & No. XXV(F) Squadron; aircraft to remain in service until 2040[168][169]
Beechcraft Texan T1 United States Propeller Trainer 2018 14 39 [139]
Embraer Phenom T.1 Brazil Jet Trainer 2018 5 5 [139]
Grob Prefect T.1 Germany Propeller Trainer 2018 23 23 [139]
Grob Tutor T.1 Germany Propeller Trainer 1999 91 [f] 119 [139] Used by the RAF Air Experience Flight. 28 Tutors have been sold to the
Finnish Air Force as of 2018 [170]
Grob Viking T.1 Germany Glider Trainer 1990 52 91 The Grob Viking T1 is the RAF's primary aircraft for delivering basic glider and flight training to the
RAF Air Cadets[139]
Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance UAVs
General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper United States UAV
Attack
 2007 9 10 [139] Expected OSD 2024. To be replaced by Protector UAV[171][172]
Protector RG1 United States UAV
Attack
 2023 1 16 16 ordered; first aircraft delivered in September 2023[173]

RAF Red Arrows

Main article: Red Arrows
Type Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total Notes
British Aerospace Hawk T.1 United Kingdom Jet Trainer 1980 12 12 [139] Retired from aggressor role in March 2022;[174] retained by the Red Arrows; to be retired by 2030.[175]

RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

Main article: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Type Origin Class Role Introduced In service Total Notes
Avro Lancaster (PA474) United Kingdom Propeller Heavy bomber 1942 1 1 1 B.I
de Havilland Canada Chipmunk United Kingdom Propeller Trainer 1946 2 2 2 T.10
Douglas Dakota United States Propeller Transport 1942 1 1 1 C.3
Hawker Hurricane United Kingdom Propeller Fighter 1937 2 2 2 Mk IIc
Supermarine Spitfire United Kingdom Propeller Fighter 1938 6 6 1 Mk IIa, 1 Mk Vb, 1 LF.IXe, 1 LF.XVIe, 2 PR.XIX

Combat air

Typhoon

Typhoon FGR4

The

Panavia Tornado GR4, which was retired on 1 April 2019.[179][180][181] The Typhoon is tasked to defend UK airspace, while also frequently deploying in support of NATO air defence missions in the Baltic (Operation Azotize), Black Sea (Operation Biloxi), and Iceland.[176][182]

The RAF has seven front-line Typhoon squadrons, plus an

No. 1 (F) Squadron, No. II (Army Cooperation) Squadron, No. 6 Squadron, and No. IX (Bomber) Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth.[176][183] Additionally, four Typhoons (Faith, Hope, Charity, and Desperation) are based at RAF Mount Pleasant on the Falkland Islands, forming No. 1435 Flight, where they provide air defence.[184] It was originally suggested that an eighth front-line Typhoon squadron could be formed,[185] however, the 2021 Defence Command Paper announced the retirement of 24 Tranche 1 Typhoons by 2025, and a commitment to seven front-line squadrons.[186][187]

The Typhoon made its combat debut in support of

Al-Tanf, Syria, with an ASRAAM.[188]

Lightning

intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. It will be jointly operated by the RAF and the Royal Navy and with its ability to perform short take-offs and vertical-landings (STOVL), can operate from the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.[189] Originally a total of 138 Lightnings were planned,[190][191][192] however the 2021 Defence Command Paper amended this to a commitment to increase the fleet beyond the current order of 48.[186] By March 2024, 34 F-35Bs had been delivered to the RAF[145][193] (though one crashed in November 2021).[194] The F-35B has an out of service date (OSD) of 2069.[195]

The first RAF squadron to operate the F-35B was No. 17 Test and Evaluation Squadron at Edwards AFB, California, accepting its first aircraft in 2014.[99] No. 617 (The Dambusters) Squadron officially reformed on 18 April 2018 as the first operational RAF Lightning squadron.[196] The first four aircraft arrived at RAF Marham from the United States in June 2018,[197] with a further five arriving in August 2018.[198] The Lightning was declared combat ready in January 2019.[199] The second UK based F-35B squadron to be formed was No. 207 Squadron on 1 August 2019 as the OCU for both RAF and Royal Navy pilots.[200][201]

Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR)

Six Hawker Beechcraft Shadow R1s (with two more to be converted) are operated by No. 14 Squadron from RAF Waddington, these aircraft are King Air 350CERs that have been specially converted for the ISTAR role.[202] Four Shadow R1s were originally ordered in 2007 due to an Urgent Operational Requirement,[203] and began the conversion process to the ISTAR role in 2009.[204] ZZ416 was the first Shadow R1 to be delivered in May 2009 to No. V (AC) Squadron.[205] A further Shadow was procured and delivered in December 2011.[206] The Shadow fleet was transferred over to the newly reformed No. 14 Squadron in October 2011.[207] Following the 2015 SDSR, three more Shadows were ordered and the fleet was given an OSD of 2030.[208]

Ten General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles have been purchased to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are operated by No. XIII Squadron at RAF Waddington.[209][210]

Three Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joints (also known in RAF service as Airseeker) replaced the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod R1 fleet in the signals intelligence role under the Airseeker Programme and are flown by No. 51 Squadron.[211] The Nimrod fleet was retired in 2011, the RAF co-manned aircraft of the US Air Force until the three RC-135s entered service between 2014 and 2017.[212] The aircraft were Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker tankers converted to RC-135W standard in the most complex combined Foreign Military Sales case and co-operative support arrangement that the UK had undertaken with the United States Air Force since the Second World War.[213] The Rivet Joint received its first operational deployment in August 2014, when it was deployed to the Middle East to fly missions over Iraq and Syria as part of Operation Shader.[214] The RC-135W's OSD is 2035.[215]

The General Atomics Protector RG1 is currently being introduced into RAF service, with operational flying scheduled to begin in 2025.

MQ-9B SkyGuardian with enhanced range and endurance.[218] In 2016, it was indicated that at least sixteen aircraft would be purchased with a maximum of up to twenty-six.[219] In July 2018, a General Atomics US civil-registered SkyGuardian was flown from North Dakota to RAF Fairford for the Royal International Air Tattoo where it was given RAF markings. In July 2020, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract for three Protectors with an option on an additional thirteen aircraft.[220] The 2021 Defence Command Paper confirmed the order for 16 Protectors,[186] despite the fact that the 2015 SDSR originally laid out plans for more than 20.[221] The first Protector RG1 (PR009) was delivered to RAF Waddington in September 2023.[222] No. 31 Squadron was reformed as the first Protector squadron on 11 October 2023,[223] having been earmarked for the role in 2018.[224]

Based at RAF Waddington, No. 54 Squadron and No. 56 Squadron act as the OCU and OEU for the ISTAR fleet respectively.[225][226]

Maritime patrol

Poseidon MRA1

Nine Boeing Poseidon MRA1[227] were ordered by the Government in November 2015 in its Strategic Defence and Security Review for surveillance, anti-submarine and anti-surface ship warfare, filling a capability gap in maritime patrol that had been left since the cancellation of the BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 programme in the 2010 SDSR.[228] On 13 July 2017, it was announced that No. 120 Squadron and No. 201 Squadron, both former Nimrod MR2 squadrons, would operate the Poseidon and be based at RAF Lossiemouth.[229] No. 120 Squadron was stood up on 1 April 2018,[229] with No. 201 Squadron reforming on 7 August 2021.[230] No. 54 Squadron was the OCU for the Poseidon fleet between 2020 and 2023.[231] No. 42 (Torpedo Bomber) Squadron has been the OCU for the Poseidon since September 2023.[232]

The first production Poseidon MRA1 ZP801 made its initial flight on 13 July 2019.

Vasily Bykov was tracked.[236] A Poseidon MRA1 arrived at RAF Lossiemouth for the first time in October 2020.[231] The ninth, and final Poseidon arrived at RAF Lossiemouth on 11 January 2022.[237]

Air mobility

Further information: AirTanker Services

Boeing C-17A Globemaster III in the heavy strategic airlift role from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. Four C-17A were originally leased from Boeing in 2000,[238] These four were subsequently purchased outright,[239] followed by a fifth delivered on 7 April 2008 and a sixth delivered on 11 June 2008.[240] The MOD said there was "a stated departmental requirement for eight" C-17s and a seventh was subsequently ordered, to be delivered in December 2010.[241] In February 2012 the purchase of an eighth C-17 was confirmed;[242] the aircraft arrived at RAF Brize Norton in May 2012.[243]

The Airbus Atlas C1 (A400M) replaced the RAF's fleet of C-130 Hercules, initially replacing the C1/C3 (C-130K) which were withdrawn from use on 28 October 2013, having originally entered service in 1967.[244] Based at RAF Brize Norton, the Atlas fleet is operated by No. 30 Squadron and No. LXX Squadron.[245] The first Atlas C1 (ZM400) was delivered to the RAF in November 2014.[246] Originally, twenty-five A400Ms were ordered in the initial batch; the total initial purchase then dropped to twenty-two.[247][248] The final aircraft in the initial order of 22 aircraft was delivered in May 2023.[158] In February 2023, the Chief of the Air Staff indicated that up to six additional aircraft were planned for delivery by 2030.[138] The C-130 Hercules was retired from RAF service on 30 June 2023.[249]

No. XXIV Squadron acts as the Air Mobility OCU (AMOCU) for the Globemaster and Atlas,[250] while No. 206 Squadron is the OEU.[251]

Air transport tasks are also carried out by the

refuelling boom, the RAF has requested a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the USAF allowing the UK access to tankers equipped with refuelling booms for its RC-135W Rivet Joint .[257]

Two Dassault Falcon 900XLs were procured in early 2022 to replace the RAF's fleet of four BAe 146s (two CC2s and two C3s) in the Command Support Air Transport role.[258] Known as the Envoy IV CC1 in British service, the aircraft are based at RAF Northolt and are operated by a mixed civilian and No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron crew. This arrangement will remain until 2024 when the fleet will be placed on the military register.[259]

Helicopters

RAF helicopters support the British Army by moving troops and equipment to and around the battlefield. Helicopters are also used in a variety of other roles, including in support of RAF ground units and heavy-lift support for the Royal Marines. The support helicopters are organised into the tri-service Joint Helicopter Command (JHC), along with helicopters from the British Army and Royal Navy.[260] No. 22 Squadron, based at RAF Benson, re-formed in May 2020 as the OEU for JHC.[261]

The large twin-rotor

Operation Telic (2003–2011); Operation Ruman (2017); and Operation Newcombe (2018–2022).[267][269][270][271] The 60-strong fleet of Chinooks currently has an OSD in the 2040s.[272][273]

The Westland Puma HC2 is the RAF's Medium-lift support helicopter. It is operated by No. 33 Squadron and No. 28 (AC) Squadron (Support Helicopter OCU) at RAF Benson.[274] No. 230 Squadron, the RAF's tiger squadron,[275] operate the Puma from Medicina Lines, Brunei, having relocated from RAF Benson in May 2023.[101] No. 84 Squadron based at RAF Akrotiri in the Cyprus Sovereign Base Areas operate three Pumas as an emergency response platform after the Bell Griffin HAR2 was retired in April 2023.[100] The first two Puma HC1s (XW198 and XW199), of an eventual forty-eight, were delivered in January 1971,[276] which were supplemented by a captured Argentine Army SA 330J in 2001 and six ex-South African Air Force SA 330Ls in 2002.[277][278] Twenty-four Puma HC1s underwent upgrades to HC2 standard between 2012 and 2014.[279] The Puma HC2 OSD is currently March 2028, having been extended from March 2025.[280]

Training aircraft

Main article: UK Military Flying Training System

The UK's military flying training has been privatised through a public-private partnership, known as the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS). Training is provided by Ascent Flight Training, a consortium of Lockheed Martin and Babcock International.[281] New aircraft were procured to reduce the training gap between the older generation Grob Tutor T1, Short Tucano T1 and Beechcraft King Air T1 aircraft, and the RAF's modern front-line aircraft, including advanced systems and glass cockpits. UKMFTS also relies far more on synthetic training to prepare aircrew for the front line, where advanced synthetic training is commonplace.[282]

Initial training

The Grob Tutor T1 equips fifteen University Air Squadrons, which provide university students an opportunity to undertake an RAF training syllabus, which includes first solo, as well as air navigation, aerobatics and formation flying. These units are co-located with Air Experience Flights, which share the same aircraft and facilities and provide air experience flying to the Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force. The Tutor is also flown by No. 16 Squadron and No. 115 Squadron based at RAF Wittering.[283]

Grob Vigilant T1 fleet were grounded for a two-year period, although Viking operations have subsequently resumed.[284] The Vigilant was unexpectedly withdrawn from service in May 2018, a year earlier than planned. A contract tender was initiated in February 2018 to replace this capability from 2022 onwards.[285]

Elementary training

The Grob Prefect T1 was introduced to RAF service in 2016 as its elementary trainer. The 23-strong fleet is based at RAF Cranwell and RAF Barkston Heath in Lincolnshire where they are operated by No. 57 Squadron. On completion of elementary training, aircrew are then streamed to either fast jet, multi-engine, or rotary training.[286]

Basic fast jet training

Basic fast jet training is provided on the Beechcraft Texan T1, which replaced the Short Tucano T1 in November 2019. The Texan is a tandem-seat turboprop aircraft, featuring a digital glass cockpit. It is operated by No. 72 (F) Squadron based at RAF Valley in Anglesey which provides lead-in training for RAF and Royal Navy fighter pilots prior to advanced training on the BAE Hawk T2. The first two Texans were delivered in February 2018 and by December 2018 ten aircraft had arrived at RAF Valley.[287][288] Four additional Texans were delivered on 3 November 2020.[289]

Advanced fast jet training

The BAE Hawk T2 is flown by

Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) where they are trained to fly either the Typhoon FGR4 (No. 29 Squadron at RAF Coningsby) or F-35B Lightning (No. 207 Squadron at RAF Marham) in preparation for service with a front-line squadron. The OCUs use operational aircraft alongside simulators and ground training, although in the case of the Typhoon a two-seater training variant exists which is designated the Typhoon T3.[291]

On 15 October 2020, it was announced a joint RAF-Qatari Air Force Hawk squadron (similar to No. 12 Squadron) would be formed in the future.[292] On 1 April 2021, it was further elaborated that this squadron would be stood up in September 2021 at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire.[293] The Joint Hawk Training Squadron received its first two Hawk Mk.167s at RAF Leeming on 1 September 2021.[294] On 24 November 2021, the Joint Hawk Training Squadron became 11 Squadron QEAF when it reformed at RAF Leeming.[295]

Multi-engine training

Multi-Engine aircrew, weapon systems officer (WSO) and weapon systems operator (WSOp) students are trained on the Embraer Phenom T1. It is operated by No. 45 Squadron based at RAF Cranwell. Multi-engine aircrew then go to their Operational Conversion Unit or front-line squadron.[296]

Rotary

No. 1 Flying Training School (No. 1 FTS) (formerly the Defence Helicopter Flying School) is based at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire and provides basic helicopter pilot training for all UK armed forces. It flies twenty-nine Airbus Juno HT1. No. 1 FTS comprises two main elements, 2 Maritime Air Wing (2 MAW) and No. 9 Regiment.[297] 2 MAW includes No. 660 Squadron of the Army Air Corps (AAC) and 705 Naval Air Squadron and provide basic helicopter flying training. No. 9 Regiment comprises No. 60 Squadron of the RAF and No. 670 Squadron of the AAC in the advanced helicopter flying training. No. 202 Squadron is also part of No. 1 FTS and operates the Airbus Jupiter HT1 at RAF Valley.[298]

Future aircraft

See also: Future of the Royal Air Force

In July 2014, the House of Commons Defence Select Committee released a report on the RAF future force structure that envisaged a mixture of unmanned and manned platforms, including further F-35, Protector RG1, a service life extension for the Typhoon (which would otherwise end its service in 2030) or a possible new manned aircraft.[299] In July 2018, at the Farnborough Airshow, the Defence Secretary announced a £2bn investment for BAE Systems, MBDA and Leonardo to develop a new British 6th Generation Fighter to replace Typhoon in 2035 under Project Tempest.[300]

On 22 March 2019, the Defence Secretary announced the UK had signed a $1.98 billion deal to procure five

Boeing E-7 Wedgetails to replace the ageing Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW1 fleet in the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) role.[301] As of May 2020, the first E-7 is expected to enter RAF service in 2023 with the final aircraft arriving in late 2025 or early 2026.[302] In December 2020, it was announced that the Wedgetail AEW1 will be based at RAF Lossiemouth.[303] The 2021 Defence Command Paper cut the Wedgetail order down to three aircraft.[186] The Sentry AEW1s were officially withdrawn on 28 September 2021.[304]

In March 2021, the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy paper was published which announced the aim to procure a New Medium Helicopter (NMH) in order to replace the Puma HC2, Griffin HAR2 (in RAF service) and the AAC's Bell 212 AH1 and Eurocopter Dauphin AH1.[305] In May 2022, the MoD announced the beginning of the NMH competition, with the aim to acquire up to 44 helicopters.[306] By November 2022, four companies qualified for the MoD's requirements: Airbus (H175M); Boeing (MH-139 Grey Wolf); Leonardo (AW149); and Sikorsky / Lockheed Martin (S-70 Black Hawk).[307] The Minister of State for Defence Procurement opened bidding for the competition, between Airbus Helicopters UK, Leonardo Helicopters UK and Lockheed Martin UK, in February 2024.[308]

  • E-7 Wedgetail
    E-7 Wedgetail

Symbols, flags, emblems and uniform

Further information: Royal Air Force roundels and Uniforms of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force Ensign
The badge of the Royal Air Force on the gates of RAF College Cranwell

Following the tradition of the other British armed services, the RAF has adopted symbols to represent it, use as rallying devices for members and promote

Union Flag as an identifying feature; however, this was easily confused with Germany's Iron Cross motif. In October 1914, therefore, the French system of three concentric rings was adopted, with the colours reversed to a red disc surrounded by a white ring and an outer blue ring.[309] The relative sizes of the rings have changed over the years and during the Second World War an outer yellow ring was added to the fuselage roundel. Aircraft serving in the Far East during the Second World War had the red disc removed to prevent confusion with Japanese aircraft.[310] Since the 1970s, camouflaged aircraft carry low-visibility roundels, either red and blue on dark camouflage, or washed-out pink and light blue on light colours. Most non-camouflaged training and transport aircraft retain the traditional red-white-blue roundel.[310]

The RAF's motto is

Per Ardua ad Astra and is usually translated from Latin as "Through Adversity to the Stars",[311] but the RAF's official translation is "Through Struggle to the Stars".[10] The choice of motto is attributed to a junior officer named J S Yule, in response to a request for suggestions from a commander of the Royal Flying Corps, Colonel Sykes.[312]

The badge of the Royal Air Force was first used in August 1918. In heraldic terms, it is: "In front of a circle inscribed with the motto Per Ardua ad Astra and ensigned by the Imperial Crown an eagle volant and affronté head lowered and to the sinister".[311] Although there have been debates among airmen over the years about whether the bird was originally meant to be an albatross or an eagle, the consensus is that it was always an eagle.[313]

Ceremonial functions and display

Red Arrows

Main article: Red Arrows
The Red Arrows in formation with an F-35B and a pair of Typhoons at the Royal International Air Tattoo in 2016

The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Waddington. The team was formed in late 1964 as an all-RAF team, replacing a number of unofficial teams that had been sponsored by RAF commands.[314] The Red Arrows badge shows the aircraft in their trademark Diamond Nine formation, with the motto Éclat, a French word meaning "brilliance" or "excellence".[314]

Initially, they were equipped with seven

BAE Hawk trainer. The Red Arrows have performed over 4,700 displays in fifty-six countries worldwide.[315]

Royal Air Force Music

Main article: Royal Air Force Music Services

Headquarters Royal Air Force Music Services, located at RAF Northolt, supports professional musicians who perform at events around the globe in support of the RAF. The Central Band of the Royal Air Force was established in 1920.[316] Other bands include the Band of the Royal Air Force College, the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment and the Band of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.[317]

Trooping the Colour

Main article: Trooping the Colour

The Royal Air Force, and its predecessor, the Royal Flying Corps, has provided the flypast for Trooping the Colour since 1913. The RFC performed its first flypast for King George V's Official Birthday over Laffin's Plain, Aldershot.[318]

See also

Footnotes

RAF ranks

  1. ^ Marshal of the Royal Air Force has become an honorary/posthumous rank, war time rank; ceremonial rank.

Other notes

  1. ^ Since April 2013, MoD publications no longer report the entire strength of the Regular Reserve, instead, only Regular Reserves serving under a fixed-term reserve contract are counted. These contracts are similar in nature to the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.
  2. ^ Total inventory, including aircraft in maintenance at any given time
  3. ^ Includes the 3 used by No. 17(R) squadron based in the US listed below
  4. ^ Includes the 4 used by No. 17(R) squadron based in the US listed below; also includes one lost in November 2021
  5. ^ Final aircraft in initial batch delivered May 2023
  6. ^ As detailed in source this also includes the 5 Tutor platforms which were operated by the Royal Navy, previously categorised as Tutor (RN Flying Grading)

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Bibliography

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